Friends of the USA Pavilion Milano 2015 Announces Partnership with Uvet to Support U.S. Presence at Next World's Fair

NEW YORK, June 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Friends of the USA Pavilion Milano 2015, the coalition responsible under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State for organizing the U.S. presence at the next world's fair, has announced a partnership with Uvet – a market leader in travel management services in Italy. Through an agreement effective June 2014, Uvet will serve as the official destination management partner of the Friends organization, providing travel management and event support for the USA Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 in Milan, Italy.

With the theme "American Food 2.0: United to Feed the Planet," the USA Pavilion will showcase America's unique role in the future of food around the world, and include multiple programs and events ranging from interactive exhibits to tastings. The U.S. is one of 140-plus countries participating in Expo Milano 2015: Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life – which is expected to attract 20 million visitors from May 1 through October 31, 2015.

"We're excited to partner with Uvet on what will be a dynamic pavilion at this once-in-a-lifetime event," said Charlie Faas, CEO of the Friends of the USA Pavilion Milano 2015. "With support from Uvet, we're looking forward to introducing people from around the world to America's food story, while creating a global conversation about food-system issues and challenges." 

"This is a valuable partnership that presents many opportunities for Uvet," Luca Patane, chairman of Uvet, said. "Through our work on the USA Pavilion, we hope we'll also strengthen the global reputation of Italy – which has far-reaching implications beyond Expo Milano 2015."

The Friends organization is a collaboration between the James Beard Foundation and the International Culinary Center, in association with the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy. Other current partners include DuPont, illy, 3M and McKinsey & Company.

For more information about the USA Pavilion or to become a sponsor, please visit: http://www.usapavilion2015.net.

About the Friends of the USA Pavilion Milano 2015
Friends of the USA Pavilion Milano 2015, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a collaboration between the James Beard Foundation (JBF) and the International Culinary Center (ICC), in association with the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy, whose mission is to conceive, design, fundraise for, and produce the USA Pavilion and programs at Expo Milano 2015 under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State. Current partners include DuPont, illy, 3M, the International Culinary Center, the James Beard Foundation and McKinsey & Company.

The Pavilion's management and program is directed by President Dorothy Hamilton (founder and CEO of ICC), CEO Charlie Faas, and Chief Creative Officer Mitchell Davis (EVP of JBF), in consultation with a team of experts across the science, business, technology, agriculture, sustainability, design and other fields, the Friends organization will oversee every aspect of the project.

For more information, visit: http://www.usapavilion2015.net/ and http://en.expo2015.org/

About Uvet
The Uvet Group is a tourism distribution hub boasting a turnover of 2.2 billion euro, active in Italy since 1950. The Group includes Uvet American Express, a market leader in travel management services and solutions for business travel, incentives, meetings and events that had a turnover of 375 million euro in 2012, and Uvet Itn Travel Network, a network of 1,300 partner travel agencies with an Italian-wide presence.

For more information about Uvet, visit: www.uvet.com and www.madeinuvet.com

SOURCE Friends of the USA Pavilion Milano 2015